The Bourne Identity
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 182 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 172 out of 182
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 182
  3. Negative: 2 out of 182

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  1. Jason
    May 26, 2008
    10
    Can't believe this has weakest rating out of trilogy. Wonderful movie with scenes to remember. Two other ones are just too fast and without decent plot. Nice work, one of my favorites
  2. shamusolarry
    Sep 7, 2011
    10
    From start to finish, this is a great movie. It's got just the right amount of suspense, just the right amount of action, just the right amount of character development. I don't have a single complaint about this movie.
  3. AussieMovieFan
    Oct 6, 2002
    10
    The best movie I have ever seen.
  4. NicoleV.
    Jun 24, 2002
    9
    Well-paced action - fun for those who pay attention - confusing for those who are more interested in what they're wearing and how they can "steal that look". A long deserved kudos to Doug Liman & Matt Damon on their graduation into the big time action flick.
  5. JennyD.
    Mar 5, 2003
    10
    One of the best movies that Matt Damon has ever done. Thrilling and fun! If you like adventure movies get this one!
  6. craiga.
    Aug 23, 2005
    10
    Gahhh! Can't resist! MUST... WATCH... AGAIN...
  7. PaulJ
    May 4, 2009
    9
    This movie was intense and at the same time, made you think. I loved it!
  8. Jane
    Jun 16, 2002
    9
    Smart, action-packed, but character driven piece with fine acting and chase scenes. Some minor plot holes, but a fun and exhilarating ride thoroughly worth the $8.50. Matt Damon is believable and capable as Jason Bourne, handling the guns, fights and script with expertise and style. Franka Potente is a fine female lead. The Bourne Identity is much better than your typical action thriller, thank god.… Expand
  9. LeciaG.
    Sep 19, 2002
    10
    YAY!! The best movie in the world along with Moulin Rouge and Lord of the Rings. Matt Damon is the BEST and Franka's got the coolest hair!!! Even tho it didn't follow the book to the letter it's definitely the best movie - in fact if you don't see it you'll be condemned to HELL!! mmkay... maybe not that.....JUST GO AND SEE IT!!!!! If you don't you'll be missing one of the best movies of the year!!!… Expand
  10. WillD.
    Jan 5, 2003
    9
    Dude, remember that Spielberg/ Tom Cruise flick that came out at the same time as this one? Minority Report? Why do reviewers kiss so much butt, anyway? That movie was not very good, but it got great reviews. This movie rocked, and didn't get very good reviews. Weird. Kind of like... oh, let's see here... EQUILIBRIUM which was the best release of 2002, and... Ballistic: Ecks v.s. Sever which rocked, and... the Ring, which was the coolest horror flick to hit the screen in forever. Critics are strange that way, though. … Expand
  11. JoannaS.
    Mar 6, 2003
    10
    This movie was a delight to watch. The action was very believable and interesting, not like the spectacle crap movie making in James Bond. All of it made sense, nothing seemed to be exagerated. It was just very well put together with the right director focusing on characters rather than explosions.
  12. MarkJ.
    Aug 4, 2003
    9
    A good movie without the typical exaggerate blockbuster action scenes. don't listen to ryan it's not a mess there is a credible script.
  13. RickG.
    Jan 22, 2004
    10
    I'm not much of a fan of spy movies, but I really enjoyed this one. When this was out in theaters I wasn't very excited about it. I finally watched it on DVD and really liked it. I never thought Matt Damon could make a convincing action hero, but I was wrong. I guess what I like most about it is that our main characters, Jason and Maria, just don't like the usual airbrushed actors we find in a typical spy thriller. They aren't trying to save the world from an evil villain and they don't run around in ridiculous cars and planes equipped with equally ridiculous technical gadgetry. While watching this I thought I recognized the actress playing Maria (Franka Potente) and, sure enough, she played Lola in the low-budget German flick Run, Lola, Run. If I was going to run around Europe with dangerous people chasing me, I would definitely want to do it with her. Glad to see that there is sequel, The Bourne Supremacy, for this planned to be released later this year. … Expand
  14. GeorgeL.
    Jul 5, 2004
    10
    Full of suspence...loved every bit of it.
  15. MikeH.
    Dec 21, 2002
    10
    This just may be the best movie I've ever seen, it's certainly the best action movie I've ever seen, and I've seen an awful lot. I can't think of another movie that would get a 10 with the possible exceptions of Jaws, The Natural and Forrest Gump for their style and pure quality. Matt Damon obviously prepared hard for this film, and it showed in his fight sequences, I even liked the obligatory girlfriend, she was cute and believable, could you imagine a joke like Sandra Bullock playing her part, I couldn't. So, The Bourne Identity makes it to the rarified atmosphere of my A+ list. It really is the best you know. Mike.… Expand
  16. DerekG.
    Jul 22, 2002
    9
    This was the best damn movie of the year.. Well done and just kept you on the edge of you seat the whole time.. Great film
  17. BrunoM.
    Oct 18, 2003
    10
    This is easilly the best spy action movie I ever seen.
  18. DanC.
    Oct 28, 2005
    9
    An incredibly satisfying thriller because it's so smartly done - all the usual action movie cliches are absent, and thank goodness. Damon is very good. Franka Potente is outstanding. One of my favorites of recent years. It deserves more credit for its intelligence and sheer entertainment value.
  19. MarielG.
    Jun 16, 2002
    10
    A great action film! I don't see why everyone on here is complaning about the lack of character development; I thought the movie was awesome.
  20. SaraV.
    Jun 16, 2002
    10
    I loved it!
  21. SueA.
    Jun 17, 2002
    10
    IT ROCKS!!! The fighting moves are great and so is the whole dang plot!
  22. BippityBobbity
    Dec 1, 2003
    10
    One of my favorite action movies of all time--smart, sly and thrilling. Matt Damon is a surprisingly marvelous bad boy.
  23. Trevor"thestadilac"M.
    Feb 27, 2003
    9
    Really enjoyed this flick, kept me on the edge of my seat...matt damon is a perfect ex-cia assasin. definitely rent this one...then buy it and then get a poster and put it on the ceiling above your bed so that everynight you can see matt damon and remember his greatness.
  24. AmandaP.
    Nov 3, 2004
    10
    I really enjoyed this movie. i think Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is stunnin'.
  25. FredB.
    Oct 15, 2006
    9
    I loved this movie. It had lots of action and suspense. I think Matt Damon did a great job bringing Jason Bourne to life. I can't wait till the third one.
  26. sinadoom
    Aug 25, 2012
    9
    This film defines what makes a great action thriller. The pacing is perfect, with no fillers but just under 2 hours of epicness. The balance between action and story, suspense and cinematic scenes is perfect. The story is very easy to follow, it's direct, intriguing and filled with great voice acting from Matt Damon and almost perfect direction. There's not a single moment in this film where you are not immersed. You don't want to take your eyes off it, whereas a lot of action films tend to go for all-out explosions and miss out on the story. You can switch on and comeback to it later and still enjoy, like the Transporter films, but this one is so gripping and almost perfect in every way. All it's really missing is a bit more action and scenes to go in between - basically a tiny bit longer. On the whole it's a must watch.… Expand
  27. abduction
    Oct 6, 2011
    10
    Oh my god. Love it. Espesiall since it is Taylor Lautners favorite movie. I heart Taylor Lautner. Must watch again. Gotta go because I am going to watch the movie again. Thankyou for reading my review. Goodbye.
  28. Juanolo
    Apr 1, 2012
    9
    This is a 9 out of 10 movie. Acting pretty good. Matt Damon is really good at Jason Bourne. Action is pretty great. Which leads to the great story. It's really good. Score is good to. Overall, this is a great start to a great series of Jason Bourne movies. You should watch it.
  29. Compi24
    Nov 28, 2012
    9
    "The Bourne Identity" is a 2002 film directed by Doug Limon and starring Matt Damon. The film follows the story of Jason Bourne (Damon), an amnesiac desperately attempting to discover more about his true identity while simultaneously embedding himself in a convoluted conspiracy involving the CIA. Now, when I had first heard "The Bourne Identity"'s fairly original and intriguing premise, I was already expecting this movie to be great. Did it disappoint? No. No, it did not. This is one of those movie's that just cannot fail - it has a rock solid story crafted by one of the most intelligent authors of our time, a brilliant screenplay written by one of Hollywood's most sought after screenwriters, and an intensely entertaining lead performance. "The Bourne Identity" and it's sequels are often credited with setting the par for most spy thrillers of the past decade - Does it deserve that credit? I believe so, for I have seen a multitude of films with similar concepts that have come out since "The Bourne Identity"'s release. However, most, if not all, of the movies that have tried to replicate what The "Bourne" movie's have done, cannot reach the level of intrigue that each of the "Bourne" movies have reached - and they promptly fall flat in comparison. That being said, everything about this film, beit it's fighting sequences, it's car chase, or it's intense cinematography has made an impact on the spy thriller genre, and the modern film industry, as a whole. All in all, I felt that "The Bourne Identity" was an intensely entertaining thriller with a large amount of intelligence clearly woven it.… Expand
  30. Wiesy
    Jan 17, 2013
    9
    Love this movie.
  31. Error404
    Apr 15, 2013
    9
    Awesome movie for James Bond fans! It is better for younger audiences in terms of suggestive content, but still pretty violent. Good story, characters, and stunts, not really a downside I could find, but it's still not the best movie I've seen. Still a good 9 out of 10!

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
  1. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    75
    The Bourne Identity keeps you in a state of nervous excitation from the opening shot to the fade-out and has a thread of deadpan humor that vibrates alongside the main action like a third rail quivering next to a hurtling train.
  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Hank Sartin
    80
    The full-throttle approach of director Doug Liman (Swingers, Go) is impressive.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    58
    It has a few whispers of intrigue, but at the heart of The Bourne Identity lies a dispiriting paradox: The more that Jason Bourne learns about himself, the less arresting he seems.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »